BBC Launches Education Strategy to Encourage Social Mobility in the UK

The BBC’s new education mission will focus on improving social mobility across the UK, writes Claudia Dudman

Launching the new approach to improve social mobility today, James Purnell, Director BBC Radio and Education said: “Education has always been part of the BBC’s DNA and we want to renew our commitment to it in this new charter period.”

The BBC has consulted extensively with stakeholders in education and business to identify key areas where its content, reach, educational expertise and trusted relationship with audiences could help reduce inequality and do more to support learning for people of all ages.

Of the 1,600 babies born every day in england, 300 will encounter literacy poverty

The priorities include…

Improving the UK’s literacy rates by focusing on pre-school children to counter the fact that the UK’s most disadvantaged five-year-olds can be 19 months behind their more affluent peers in vocabulary development on school entry.

Championing the wider needs of children by building resilience and self-esteem and by supporting mental health just as much as we currently support their academic needs.

Opening up the world of employment to young people at a time when recent CBI research has revealed that 84% of UK businesses feel the quality of careers advice young people receive is not good enough.

Exploring opportunities that make it easier for adults to retrain; equipping them to thrive in a changing labour market and in an increasingly digital world.

CBI research also showed that 79% of businesses see skills gaps as a threat to the UK’s current labour market

Creativity and critical thinking

It is increasingly recognised that academic achievements alone are not enough to prepare young people for the world of work. A range of important transferable skills are also seen as critical for opening up career opportunities.

The BBC will therefore build on its online study service, BBC Bitesize currently used by 80% of secondary school pupils and 50% of primary school pupils, to help teenagers acquire life skills and offer them career advice.

Using insight from organisations including the CBI and National Careers Service, the new BBC Bitesize will become a personalised user experience mapped to key milestones including career choices and preparation for work.

The rise of tech

Technological advances such as the continued development of machine learning and automation are bringing significant disruption to the UK labour market. A report by PWC suggests that up to 30% of UK jobs could be at high risk of automation in the next 15 years. As a result, it is becoming necessary for people to retrain throughout their careers.

The BBC wants to work with organisations including The Open University to explore if it can enable more people to gain new skills that increase employment prospects in an ever changing world.

With separate editions for prep and senior schools, Independent School Parent is the only magazine to address the issues that really matter to parents who have chosen to educate their children privately. Whether it’s advice on your choice of school, pastoral care, the best way to tackle exams, or how to confront teenage problems, Independent School Parent provides the answers through insightful articles written by an expert team of writers that includes some of the top names in teaching.